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Volume over IR still doesn't control my sound bar
- Thread starter NavySEAL6
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How is the sound bar connecting to the TV? If it just using and audio out on the TV then it will not accept Incomming commands.
Yes, the sound bar is connected via optical out to the sound bar. Why wouldn't this work if Apple TV has IR? What do I need to do to make it work?
I've never heard of CEC via optical audio cable. Try Bluetooth or add the sound bar via the remotes submenu. It will get you to press the volume button on your Samsung remote so it can mimick it.
Samsung seems to be quite useless with CEC via HDMI. TV don't seem to sleep when the Apple TV sleeps.
Samsung seems to be quite useless with CEC via HDMI. TV don't seem to sleep when the Apple TV sleeps.
My Bose Solo (Original one) works perfectly with 'Volume over IR'. Which is connected via Optical Audio.
I opened a case with AppleCare for the same issue, but related to my pioneer amplifier. After several calls and jumping through all the hoops, including resetting the device back to factory condition, The engineering group says that it is a known bug, and is to be addressed in the future release. That's all I know.
This requires turning off HDMI-CEC so Apple TV will no longer turn on/off your TV via HDMI-CEC. I use this to control my the volume for my Yamaha sound bar. Since I use a harmony remote to change inputs, power on sound bar, etc, I don't need HDMI-CEC to control my TV.
BTW - My bedroom TV is a small Samsung (with no AV equipment) and HDMI-CEC works pretty well on that setup. When the Apple TV goes to sleep the TV turns itself off. When I press button to wake Apple TV the TV turns on. TV volume control works too. Didn't have to setup anything - worked straight out of the box.
How to program Siri Remote for non-HDMI-CEC devices
Step 1: Go to Settings → Remotes and Devices on your fourth-generation Apple TV.
Step 2: Choose Volume Control under the Home Theater Control heading.
Step 3: Now select the option labeled Learn New Device. If options labeled Auto or TV via IR are available here as well, your home theater devices support HDMI-CEC and can be automatically linked to the Siri Remote so there’s no need to proceed with the manual setup.
Step 4: Time to teach your Siri Remote new tricks. First, take your traditional TV or receiver remote control and point it at your Apple TV. Now press and hold the Volume Up button on that remote and continue holding it until the on-screen progress bar is full.
Step 5: Repeat the process for the Volume Down button. The infrared receiver built into your Apple TV will pick up these remote commands and program your Siri Remote accordingly.
Step 6: Lastly, name your newly programmed remote for easy identification in the menus.
Tip: To cancel setup at any time, press the Menu button on the Siri Remote.
BTW - My bedroom TV is a small Samsung (with no AV equipment) and HDMI-CEC works pretty well on that setup. When the Apple TV goes to sleep the TV turns itself off. When I press button to wake Apple TV the TV turns on. TV volume control works too. Didn't have to setup anything - worked straight out of the box.
How to program Siri Remote for non-HDMI-CEC devices
Step 1: Go to Settings → Remotes and Devices on your fourth-generation Apple TV.
Step 2: Choose Volume Control under the Home Theater Control heading.
Step 3: Now select the option labeled Learn New Device. If options labeled Auto or TV via IR are available here as well, your home theater devices support HDMI-CEC and can be automatically linked to the Siri Remote so there’s no need to proceed with the manual setup.
Step 4: Time to teach your Siri Remote new tricks. First, take your traditional TV or receiver remote control and point it at your Apple TV. Now press and hold the Volume Up button on that remote and continue holding it until the on-screen progress bar is full.
Step 5: Repeat the process for the Volume Down button. The infrared receiver built into your Apple TV will pick up these remote commands and program your Siri Remote accordingly.
Step 6: Lastly, name your newly programmed remote for easy identification in the menus.
Tip: To cancel setup at any time, press the Menu button on the Siri Remote.
I do try adding it through the Apple TV settings. It goes through the "learning process" described below and says it is successful, but it simply does not work.
This is proof that what I'm trying to do should be possible. Apple TV or Siri remote (forgot the truth) has an IR blaster so you should be able to use any sound device that uses a standard remote control.
Please keep us up to date! I would be interested in hearing anything else you learn about it. I can't even get online support to admit this is an issue.
This is exactly what I do, and after it says the learning is successful it just doesn't work. This has to be some type of bug and I hope they address it soon. This device hasn't worked properly since Day 1.
I have two Samsung TVs (2009 and 2011) each connected to an ATV4 and both turn on/off every time via CEC.
Installed update today, our Pioneer AVR is still not cooperating. No volume up/down with ATV4 remote, learns (but doesn't remember). I have read that some of the higher end Pioneer receivers were working, but ours is low to mid level. Was really hoping this would be fixed...
That's very disconcerting. This should be a fairly easy fix. My soundbar is controlled by Xbox One and my Harmony Hub, so the tech is definitely there.
Strange, this feature has worked for me since day 1. But I do have a Sony AVR.
And I was immediately impressed how the remote learning works - you beam your AVR IR codes into the black box of aTV 4 and it will program the remote over it's bluetooth connection!
See if your bar supports ARC over HDMI. I control everything power and volume related via my Samsung tv remote. It powers on and off my receiver. With atv 4 it wakes my tv which then wakes my receiver. It is also superior audio quality as most optical outs on tvs do not support surround sound.
This is really not an AppleTV issue, but a 'device standards' issue. The AppleTV is quite amazing that it can control other devices via HDMI, if only they stuck to standards. We should thank Apple for coming up with solutions for those of us that have not purchased CEC device( or have devices with older tech that only partially implement HDMI-CEC ).
I have a four year old LED TV in one of our rooms that only partially implements HDMI-CEC standards. Fortunately the AppleTV4 can turn it off and on and the IR in the controller can control the sound. So I have all the features I need.
The TV in the living room is new and fully implements HDMI-CEC. So the AppleTV can fully control it via bluetooth. Works perfectly when I'm hiding under the covers from a scary movie.
I have a four year old LED TV in one of our rooms that only partially implements HDMI-CEC standards. Fortunately the AppleTV4 can turn it off and on and the IR in the controller can control the sound. So I have all the features I need.
The TV in the living room is new and fully implements HDMI-CEC. So the AppleTV can fully control it via bluetooth. Works perfectly when I'm hiding under the covers from a scary movie.